Sunday, October 9, 2011

Socrates... One or the Other? (Topic 2)

I chose topic two, because I felt that it was the topic, in which, I could give and explain a full answer to. Then, upon reading it several times, I soon realized that my answer had become vague and scattered. I will first tell you what my conclusion was and then go into further detail.

Pertaining to the question asked within the beginning of the topic, I feel that neither of the statements is fully true nor false. Yes, I believe that he has his personal and philosophical beliefs, but willing to die for them? I personally am not fully bought on the idea. Then the whole idea of 'playing up' the martyr figure, I also believe that this is false. Although Socrates may be a bit of a martyr, I personally feel that he most definitely did not 'play it up'. He did not say that he was examining men on behalf of God, because he wanted 'sympathy or admiration'. He merely stated a fact for the reason of stating a fact; so everyone knew it.

So now, I come to a predicament. I fully believe in neither of the ideas put forward within the first question, so I can not give a definite answer to it. Now, when I first looked at the second, and final, question, I found myself saying, of course they're two different things, but then upon my second reading, my answer had become vague again.

I believe that the two ideas are interchangeable and can be joint, but I also believe that they can be separate, depending on the person in question. For example, if we were to take Socrates, I believe that his ideology is of his own creation, but his martyr being tends to over lap at times. Now, I am not saying that his beliefs and martyr being are one of the same, because I do not believe they are. I am just saying that bits and pieces are interchangeable, but not all of it, if that makes sense.

Now, I know that I have not really given a definite answer at all to either of the questions, but if I were to go into greater detail of my explanation, I would just become Socrates himself, going around in circles and making people even more confused. So, it is just better for me to stick to the nitty-gritty, and leave it in its vague and prime state.

1 comment:

  1. Good work, Daniella. Your response highlights the toughness of this question - and, in many ways, the ambiguity of Socrates' case. However, your analysis would be stronger if you remained closer to Plato's texts to make your argument. I think your claims could have been justified, had you included specific reference to events or dialogue within the texts. Furthermore, you mention that you are not sold on the idea that Socrates would die for his beliefs. But, given the ending of the Apology, isn't this claim problematized?

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